Dean Club!!!

[B-Mac]

Well, I've had my Rhapsody Q4 for...what, a week now? Got it all cleaned up, checked out, set it up with D'Addario XL nickel strings, EXL165. I have a set or Rotosound strings I was going to use, but I figured for a Black Friday deal at $15.99 for a set of nickels, I'd put them on.

What's the general consensus on the best type of strings for this model? Anyone have any input or recommendations?

I'm ok with the action - a bit high, but I can live with it. I'm really enjoying playing it, and it has a nice tone with the nickels, though I may put the Rotosound strings that I have to see how they compare. Nice and quiet as well, no hum, no buzz, nothing. Only thing I'm noticing - the battery cover opens up occasionally on it's own. Not sure what I'm going to do about that right now. I'm sure a direct replacement is probably made of unobtanium now.

So far, so good! I'm liking it, and much more than the Zone that I sold to buy this!

They’re generally generic battery compartment. You’d have to get the entire battery compartment. Two screws and some solder.

If I see one on eBay I’ll send you a link. Same as Ibanez and Schecter.

 

[B-Mac]

View attachment 5257843
This bass is, I believe, a 2A Demonator Metalman, and was a $60 Craigslist purchase. It had a dead preamp and the seller made it real clear he was keeping the skull control knobs. I rewired it passive with a volume, blend and two “producer knobs” so I guess now it is actually a 2P Demonator Metalman.

I’ve really grown to like it; it has a great neck shape and a smooth thick tone and feels nice with .045-.100 D’Addario chrome flatwounds on it.

Can I get a number?

Well, @mexicanyella planted the Demon seed and pushed me over the top...more to come later this week.

 

[mexicanyella]

Well, @mexicanyella planted the Demon seed and pushed me over the top...more to come later this week.

That’s the first time anyone has said THAT about me.

Awaiting NBD pics...

 

[OldBlue61]

They’re generally generic battery compartment. You’d have to get the entire battery compartment. Two screws and some solder.

If I see one on eBay I’ll send you a link. Same as Ibanez and Schecter.

I was not aware they were just generic, though it does make sense. I found a couple of different styles on Amazon, I'll reply with which one fits, and I can easily return the others.

 

[B-Mac]

I was not aware they were just generic, though it does make sense. I found a couple of different styles on Amazon, I'll reply with which one fits, and I can easily return the others.

I have a few Reverb/eBay posts that I am watching. I can post links here.

Ibanez, Schecter and Dean (and others) all have some of the exact same hardware, etc. as they use some of the same factories, Particularly the World Music factory in South Korea (then) World Music also has a more recent factory location in Indonesia.

 

[B-Mac]

I was not aware they were just generic, though it does make sense. I found a couple of different styles on Amazon, I'll reply with which one fits, and I can easily return the others.

Guitar and Bass 9V Battery Box Case For Kramer/Dean/Jackson/Ibanez/Epiphone/LTD | eBay

 

[OldBlue61]

It looks just like BT-002, the one in the center.

 

[Jv-d]

I have a chance to pick up a 2nd Dean bass, a Rhapsody 4 string from 2004, though I think that according to the serial number it may be a 2005? Guy bought it new, and may just not remember correctly. Regardless, I believe it's a Q4? Is that correct? Looks to have a 3-band EQ, and either 2 seperate volume controls or volume/balance? Not sure. Anything out of the ordinary I should be on the lookout for? Any help would be appreciated.

View attachment 5253998
View attachment 5253999
View attachment 5254000

Purrrrty,!

 

[B-Mac]

It looks just like BT-002, the one in the center.

View attachment 5264857 View attachment 5264859

What’s funny is that I know I need one for one of my Dean basses, but can’t recall which one.

 

[B-Mac]

It looks just like BT-002, the one in the center.

View attachment 5264857 View attachment 5264859

Did you get one?

 

[OldBlue61]

Was supposed to be delivered yesterday, got bumped to Monday, hopefully!

 

[B-Mac]

That’s the first time anyone has said THAT about me.

Awaiting NBD pics...

And away we go!!!

Has some nicks and dings, but nothing too bad. Price kept coming down on Reverb, so I made an even lower offer and voilà, I now have a 2006 Demantor Vintage Active and neck-thru.

It's all @mexicanyella 's fault!!!!

 

[OldBlue61]

Very cool!

 

[RL5]

And away we go!!!

View attachment 5270956 View attachment 5270957 View attachment 5270958 View attachment 5270959 View attachment 5270960 View attachment 5270961

Has some nicks and dings, but nothing too bad. Price kept coming down on Reverb, so I made an even lower offer and voilà, I now have a 2006 Demantor Vintage Active with set neck.
View attachment 5270963

It's all @mexicanyella 's fault!!!!

Congrats! And I still can't find an import Entwistle Spider!

 

[mexicanyella]

And away we go!!!

View attachment 5270956 View attachment 5270957 View attachment 5270958 View attachment 5270959 View attachment 5270960 View attachment 5270961

Has some nicks and dings, but nothing too bad. Price kept coming down on Reverb, so I made an even lower offer and voilà, I now have a 2006 Demantor Vintage Active with set neck.
View attachment 5270963

It's all @mexicanyella 's fault!!!!

I’ll own my actions... I’ll be that guy.

Cool bass! I dig those fretboard inlays!

 

[B-Mac]

Congrats! And I still can't find an import Entwistle Spider!

Rare as hen's teeth.
I'm keeping my eyes open.

John Entwistle Endorsements and Signature Series | John Entwistle Bass Gear | Whotabs

 

[mexicanyella]

I always liked the Demonator. There are quite a few versions of this bass.
View attachment 5257938 View attachment 5257940 View attachment 5257941

There's also a USA version and some signature versions.

I’ve just been looking more closely at the catalog info in @B-Mac ’s post, and now I’m hoping I cross paths with a Metalman V at some point so I can try it out.

Imagine being a guy with a Demonator, and all the complications involved with setting it down so it can’t fall over, and suddenly you find a bass that can lean against any vertical surface and it takes on the stability of a camera tripod.

What would really be cool is if the one-pickup version was available with the pickup moved “neck-ward” a bit, maybe even as far as the 2A version’s neck pickup, for more beef and less gank. I’ve found that when I use my Demonator’s neck pickup, I drop neatly into a hole between drummer and guitarist. The ganky bridge sound is fun by myself, but in the band situation the neck pickup really works great by itself.

 

[B-Mac]

I’ve just been looking more closely at the catalog info in @B-Mac ’s post, and now I’m hoping I cross paths with a Metalman V at some point so I can try it out.

Imagine being a guy with a Demonator, and all the complications involved with setting it down so it can’t fall over, and suddenly you find a bass that can lean against any vertical surface and it takes on the stability of a camera tripod.

What would really be cool is if the one-pickup version was available with the pickup moved “neck-ward” a bit, maybe even as far as the 2A version’s neck pickup, for more beef and less gank. I’ve found that when I use my Demonator’s neck pickup, I drop neatly into a hole between drummer and guitarist. The ganky bridge sound is fun by myself, but in the band situation the neck pickup really works great by itself.

Here's some different V's from different years. Some are redundant.
The 'V Stealth' looks the most interesting to me.

 

[B-Mac]

And away we go!!!

View attachment 5270956 View attachment 5270957 View attachment 5270958 View attachment 5270959 View attachment 5270960 View attachment 5270961

Has some nicks and dings, but nothing too bad. Price kept coming down on Reverb, so I made an even lower offer and voilà, I now have a 2006 Demantor Vintage Active and neck-thru.
View attachment 5270963

It's all @mexicanyella 's fault!!!!

I forgot to add these neat little details.
Side of neck bar pearloid marker inlays and Warwick end piece.

And yes, I have to adjust the truss rod and saddles to get the strings lower.

 

[OldBlue61]

I saw this on an eBay post today. Made my head hurt.